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By E. NOEMAN GUNNISON, 

Second New Hampshire Volunteers^, 




^-.&J<i:^^~^)f~S^^^^ 



P H I L A I> E L P H I A 

U1K(;WALT <t BROWN, STKAM-POVVEK'bOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, 

111 and 113 Soutli Fourth Street. 




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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863. 

By E. NORMAN GUNNISON. 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the 

Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



ri)EQICJiTOIlY. 



5~o the men of Uooher's (I)ivision — the men vjho, 
cot ^v2l If^un, at Yorhtozun , at Vv^illiamshurg' , Fair 
Oaks, G-lendale, J/Lalvern Hill, Tavei^n Hill, ^'ristov: 
Station, HoAifax, and. other places, have home the 
hrunt of battle, following-, with vjeary steps; but 
vjilling- hearts, vjhere the siuord of our noble Lead^er^ 
marked, the thickest of Ihe fray — to the gallant 
Sickles' and. Second, fersey ^^rigad.es, with the old. 
^rigad.e of G-rover — and. especially to the Jvlassa- 
chusetts First and JTevj Hampshire Second. — com- 
rades in arms and. battle — as a token of end.uring 
friend.ship — a friend.ship foi^med. upon the field, of 
strife, vjhen, sid.e by sid.e, we battled, in the holy 
cause of Freed.om — this book is respectfully ded.i- 

catsd. by 

THE AUTHOR. 



PREFACE. 

Authors have so often reiterated the assertion that a 
book without a preface is no book at all, that, taking 
the truth of that assertion for granted, I shall follow in 
the beaten path, and at the outset, give to the Public 
my motives for thus obtruding myself upon its notice. 
At the commencement of this war, it was my good for- 
tune, to enlist in a regiment of men who, in the general 
lethargy which at^ that time prevaded our Nation, had 
not fallen so deeply asleep but that the roar of the ciin- 
non which battered the walls of "Old Sumter" could 
awaken them at once to a sense of their duty as Patriots 
and as men ; and, in the course of time, it w^fe my still 
greater good fortune to become connected with a Division 
of as gallant men, under as noble a Leader, as ever drew 
sword in the cause of right. I then determined that, 
were I spared, I would endeavor to write a book which, . 
in- the coming time, might be to those brave men and 
their friends, a memorial of past suffering, defeat and 
triumph — for that we must, in the end, triumph, I have 
never, even in our darkest hour, doubted. 

" For Right is Right, since God is God^ 

And riglit shall surely win, 
To clovbt would be disloyalty. 

To falter would be sin.'' 

I have endeavored briefly to touch upon the most 
prominent points in our history as a Division, and to give 

(5) 



' 6 

to tlie whole book (to coin a phrayc of my own) a divisional 
interest. The work is not open to criticism. I am not. 
nor do I pretend to be, an educated man, or an Author. 
The Sea has been^my only college, and the splicing of a 
rope, or knotting of a reef point, the lore into which I 
have most deeply studied. So, if critics rail, I' shall 
laugh ; and their efforts with the Battering Kam of 
Logic, to overturn my poor Musquito of Literature, will 
be to me but a cause of merriment. 

The present volume is prefatory, and, at best, is but 
the ^^ avant courier'', o? the coming work. The two 
succeeding volumes will be a continuation of the Battle 
Sketches contained in this issue, and will chronicle such 
» battles, skirmishes and movements as the Division may 
hereafter be engaged in. The work, such as it is, was 
written for the Division and its friends, and outside of 
the Division I am independent of the world. If it is 
received by them in the spirit in which it was conceived, 
as a well-merited tribute from a Private to his comrades 
in arms, then I shall lay aside my pen with the full 
'consciousness that my highest desire has been -crowned 
with fruition. 

' E. N. G. 



CONTENTS 



Our Organization, ..'..... 11 

Hooker's Division, .19 

The Charge of the Second, .... 22 

0, Flag of our Union, .25 

Washington, 27 

Bull Run, .... . . . • . 30 

The WoRLi), . 34 

The Yankee Girls, . . . . . . . .36 

God Save our Glorious Union, . . ... 33 

The Battle of Williamsburg, . - \ • • • .40 
Sic Semper Tyrannis, . . \ . . . . 51 

Our Flag, . . % 53 

The Hidden Well, 55 

Lines Written on Washington's Birth-day, . . .57 

A Song for the Second, . 59 

Battles before and Retreat from Richmond, . . v 61 

Flag of the Free, • " . . 68 

Ode to CoLUjfBiA, . .,*,„... 70 

Victory, . . . 71 

Long Ago, , 73 

Advance, 75 

To the North, . . . 77 

Live for Something, 80 

America, '82 

To the South, .87 

Ashes, , 91 

A Greeting, 93 

Forever, , . . 96 

Kiss Him for His Mother, 100 

The Devil and Jeff. Daais, 103 

The Last Hours op Napoleon, ..... 100 

Hurrah for Sixty-three, . 109 

Peace, . Ill 

Our Present Duty to our Country, . . , . H;> 



1/ 



®ur ©rjani^atiou- 



" He, Cadmus-like, has sown the teeth 
From which an army springs." 

The battle of Bull Run had been fought and 
lost, but in its results had furnished the American 
people with a lesson not to be neglected. It was 
very evident that, without further organization, 
we could accomplish nothing. As is usual in all 
emergencies, the proper man to undertake the 
re-organization at once appeared upon the stage, 
and to George B. McClellan was committed the 
task of gathering together the shattered remnants 
of our Bull Run army, and forming them into 
brigades, divisions and corps. Perhaps in all 
America no better man could have been selected 
for this duty. His military genius, broad and 
comprehensive, at once took in all the difficulties 
in his way ; and with true soldier-like persistency 
he set himself about the work. With the manner 
in which it was accomplished,* outside of our own 
divisional organization, these pages have but little 
to do. 

Sadly decimated and shattered by their first 
battle, the Massachusetts First and Eleventh, 
(11) 



12 

with the New Hampshire Second, were ordered 
into camp at Bladensburg, a pleasant little Mary- 
land village, distant four miles from Washington, 
to- form the nucleus of Hooker's first brigade. 
At this place they were joined by th^ Pennsylva- 
nia Twenty-sixth, and together the four regiments 
formed brigade. The military discipline now 
became somewhat stringent. Certain hours were 
appointed for drilling, more positive guard rules 
adopted, and gradually and firmly, but so gently 
that what was felt could hardly be realized, the 
strictest discipline was established in the ranks. 
It was very evident to all that the mind accom- 
plishing these results in our midst, was too 
well versed in volunteer nature to attempt bring- 
ing about at once this great change, and few of 
us would have ibeen willing to believe that our 
new commander was a regular ofiicer ; but so it 
was. Thus far, he had not been seen in our midst ; 
but one morning, just after reveille, a sedate, 
farmer-like personage rode into our camp, gave 
orders for a general inspection, and many of the 
men for the first time set their eyes upon one, for 
whom, in the hour of battle, they should yet look 
so eagerly, and hail, in the thickest of the fray, 
•the advent of Joe. Hooker as the advent of. vic- 
tory. After this, a series of inspections followed, 
and under the, keen ^e of our General, the brigade 
rapidly attained an efiiciency which, in raw troops, 



13 

was astonishing. Drill followed closely upon drill, 
and parade upon parade. Some of the boys 
grumbledj and could not see what good effect all 
this constant w^ork could possibly have : but, as a 
general thing, good humor pervaded the camp ; 
and at this time even our most inveterate grum- 
blers will concede that the terrific engagements 
we passed through, when, in later days, we skir- 
mished down through Wheeler's woods, formed 
line of battle with our flank resting upon his corn- 
crib, or astonished old Posey by the tremendous 
and successful charges wiiich we made upon his 
poultry yard, were fitting us to sustain the some- 
what heavier charges at Williamsburg, Glendale 
and Bull Run. 

But in this world everything has its end, 
and our stay at Bladensburg was. no excep- 
tion to the given rule ; so one fine morning 
in the latter part of the fall, when our sojourn at 
that place had run far into the second month, 
orders were received to pack up and get ready for 
the road. The journey down over the rough 
Maryland highway, the sojourn at Camp Starva- 
tion, and the encampment at Hilltop, will not be 
soon forgotten by any of those w^ho participated 
in w^hat Artemas Ward would call the enjoyments 
of that gay and festive occasion; and to others 
the recital of the events connected with the 
journey would lack interest. I shall therefore 



14 

— merely giving the opinion of an old ladj who 
domiciled at Hilltop, as regards the moral char- 
acter of the Massachusetts First and New Hamp- 
shire Second — change the scene to the camp 
at Doncaster. '' The Massachusetts and New 
Hampshire boys are nice boys," remarked the 
old lady, " and I don't mean to say that they will 
steal ; but I do mean to say that when they came 
here we had a flock of more nor a hundred turkeys, 
and now Ave've got nary a turkey !" and the old 
lady walked slowly oii, musing, as she went, on 
the mutability of human affairs, and the uncer- 
tainty of turkeys in the presence of soldiers. 
After a series of wanderings, dwelling, like the 
Children of Israel, in tents, and subsisting upon 
what God, Uncle Sam, and our own wits threw in 
our way, we at last brought up for the winter on 
the shores of the Potomac. 

Here Yfe at once settled down, went to work build- 
ing log houses, changed our habits of life, and from a 
nomadic tribe, became a people dwelling in towns, 
and possessing a local habitation. No sooner were 
we domiciled, than our neighbors upon the opposite 
shore, unwilling that we should utterly ignore 
their presence, opened upon us from their batteries 
at Cock-pit Point, Shipping and Evansport, 
throwing shot and shell into our camp, which the 
boys, with the Yankee's ready tact for money 
making, picked up and sold to the officers for 



15 

ten dollars each. Everything now being estab- 
lished, and, through the generosity of the rebels 
a way opened to supply ourselves with spending- 
money, we proceeded to make our quarters as com- 
fortable as possible. 

We were here joined by^the Sickles' brigade and 
a brigade of Jersey troops, under Gen. Patterson, 
and tKe three brigades were formed into the divi- 
sion which afterwards made its mark as the fight- 
ing division of Joe. Hooker. 

The fall and winter rains now set in, and as the 
ground became too heavy too allow much drilling, 
after making details for guard, fatigue and police 
duty, the boys were left to their own devices to pass 
away the time. To many this was no very serious 
duty ; the fair daughters of the secesh residents, of 
Charles county, not being at all averse to the 
society of the Yankee invaders : and in the 
absence of other railitary duties, they proceeded 
in a systematical manner, to lay seige to the 
hearts of the damsels of that iil^. Others, believ- 
ing that they had been placed at this point for the 
express purpose of watching the rebels upon the 
opposite shore, kept a strict surveilance upon those 
unhappy individuals — being at times rewarded by 
a view of their artillery practice, as they would 
open their batteries upon some white-winged 
schooner, which, like its glorious prototype, the 
Ship of State, would sail majestically on. 



16 

unharmed by the missiles of rebel wrath, until 
passing safel}^ beyond range of shot or shell, a 
cheer of triumph would arise from her crew — just 
as some day, w^hen the good ship Unioyi shall 
have . passed safely through the breakers which 
now threaten to dash her in pieces, into the calm 
waters of peace, the cheers of victory shall break 
forth from the loyal crew who have stood at her 
helm and braces — ay ! and at her guns-, too ! — 
urging her forward toward her God-appointed 
port of destination. 

And so the winter wore on, until the latter 
part of February; then, flashing over the wires, 
thrilling every loyal heart as with its own elec- 
tricity, came the news of victory. The battle 
of Mill Spring had been won ; Fort Donelson 
had fallen. The campaign was opening gloriously. 
The men w^ere impatient to be in the field, but, 
as yet, the condition of the roads precluded 
the possibility of transporting artillery. How- 
ever, the roads were fast drying up, and in March 
the drill was resumed by brigades, and the men 
of the different regiments, by becoming accustom- 
ed to drilling in company, were familiarized with 
brigade movements, and made more efficient for 
the field. Nothing which could conduce to the 
promotion of the utmost efficiency was spared, 
and the men were soon as familiar with move- 
ments in mass as they had ever been with 



17 

regimental movements. Event succeeded event 
rapidly. The position at Shipping Point became 
untenable for the rebels, and was blown up and 
evacuated. 

On the third of April came the tidings that we 
were ordered aboard transports in the river ; and 
now we were taking the field in earnest. Many of 
our men were as yet untried, yet those who looked 
upon the Sickles' or Jersey brigades, as they em- 
barked for the field of strife, could not doubt that 
they would come forth from the ordeal of battle 
with honor to themselves and the States they 
represented. On the, fifth day of April we 
embarked, and after the usual red-tape delays, 
got under weigh, and proceeded down the Poto- 
mac. Nothing occurred upon the passage down 
to mar the pleasure of the trip. We underwent 
the usual starvation, vfere packed and crowded, 
made the rendezvous at Fortress Monroe, and in 
company with the rest of the fleet, proceeded to 
Ship Point, landed, passed a miserable night in a 
swamp-hole, and the next day marched for York- 
town, where we squatted quietly down, commenced 
digging, and awaited the progress of events. At 
this place little of outside interest occurred, except 
the constant skirmishing of our sharp-shooters, 
and the gallant charge of Company H, Massa- 
chusetts First, capturing a lunette, in the very 
teeth of the Confederate batteries, and under a 



18 

heavy artillery :^re, entirely destroying the >York. 
But I will not attempt to describe the charge, as 
it has already passed into a matter of history, and 
been delineated by far abler word painters than 
myself. Slovfly, but steadily, our work progressed. 
Parallel after parallel was thrown up, batteries 
placed in position, and every preparation made 
for a successful bombardment. But the enemy 
was not to be caught thus. By a skillful, Avell- 
directed fire, he first attempted to so discommode 
our laboring parties as to render the continuation 
of our operations impossible. But the work still 
went on. For once, he was out-generaled, and 
with as good a grace as he might, he prepared for 
his retreat — a retreat which the providence of 
McClellan made one of danger, of loss, and of 
^suffering. 



i 



When the gallant Division commanded by " Joe,'' ' 

On the field of old Williamsburg stood, 
To strike at the lines of the traitorous foe, 

Who held both the forts and the wood, 
The brigade led by Grover first opened the fight. 

And firm as the hand of stern fate, 
To battle for Union, for God, and for rigid, 

Moved the sons of the old Granite State. 

And proud through the midst of the battle array. 

Like a beacon of hope to the world, 
A gurdeon of promise, through all that drear day, 

Was the flag of the Bay State unfurled : 
And the Keystone's bright banner through battles 
dread cloud. 

Soared over secesh in a fix. 
For wherever it floated. Secession's broad shroud. 

Was sewed by the brave Twenty- Sixth ^^ 

*Twenty-Sixth Pa. Vols. 

(19) 



^20- 

Theu Sickles^ Brigade gave Secesli a rough blow, 

And taught them 'twas hard to rebel ; 
For wherever Excelsior moved on the foe, _ 

They in blood marked their motto — Excel ; 
And the Jersey Brigade bore their banner on high, 

And wherever that battle flag flew, 
The foe as he gazed with his powder-dimmed eye, 

Decidedly felt — Jersey Blue. 



So through the dark tempest of bullet and shell. 

Secesh poured, on centre and flank, 
Though the shot from their guns seemed a hail storm 
from hell, 

Oui' lines never faltered nor shrank. 
We fought till our banners were victory crowned, 

And the blood of the traitorous foe, 
With a dark stain of crimson had reddened the ground, 

Then cheered for the Jlar/ and old Joe. 



On the field red with carnage our State flags have twined, 

And where e'er they have blended together, 
The Goddess of Liberty 'midst them enshrined, 

Has led us to victory ever. 
Thougli our ranks by the battle were shattered and 
worn, 

Wherever our country might need us, 
We have swept o'er the field thougli our hope seemed 
forlorn, 

With our gallant Joe Hooker to lead us. 



21 



Then let Hooker's Division bear proudly the name. 

They have won on the battle-field gory ; 
For still they will strike for ihQ\r freedom and /«?«<;. 

For their homes, and the folds of Old Glory. 
Still over their way shall the flag they uphold. 

Wave free, till existence unending, 
-Shall change every star to an orbit of gold, 

With the heaven's blest firmament blendina;. 



Wlxt fflttarg^ of the ^erond 



Thei'e was silence for a moment, 

On th' ensanguined field of strife, 
Wllere the sons of the Republic 

Battled for a Nation's life, — 
And a solemn, death-like stillness 

On the scene of carnage fell. 
When the order, ^'^ Forward Second!''' 

Echoed over hill and dell. 



Down they swept upon the foemen, — 

Brave New Hampshire's granite sons I- 
IVith i\\Q knell of the Rebellion 

Ringing from their serried guns, 
Till the dark lines of the traitors 

Shivink beneath the bayonet's shock — 
As the mighty waves of ocean 
>_ Shrink from off the beatling rock. 
(22) 



Forward still the gallant Second 

Swept, through fire, and blood and flame. 
With their hearts' best life-blood washing 

From our past its page of shame ; — 
From the flank unto the centre, — 

Where the brave old Marston towers, — 
Not a single patriot wavers, 

Though the death-shot round them showers. 



Forward still, though death and carnage 

Hovered darkly o'er their way,. 
Where the columns of the traitors 

In their sinful prowess lay, 
Swept the Second, though environed 

By a line of triple steel, ' 

'Till the dead lay thick and gory 

'Neath the warriors' trampling heel. 



Then they turned, when human valor 

Could sustain the shock no more, 
With their bayonets' brilliant gleamino 

Deadened by the traitors' gore. 
Back they came, but not the Second 

Which advanced in povrer and pride, 
It was but the shattered remnant 

Which had stemmed the battle-tide. 



- 24 ' 

Shall it ever be forgotten — 

The New Hampshire Second's charge'? 
AVill not History engrave it 

On some sacred page or marge, 
Where the coming generations 

May the blood-marked lesson read, 
And gain courage by its precept 

For their darkest hour of need ? 



For New Hampshire's gallant fallen 

Be no tea* of pity shed : 
In the records of our glory 

Still they live — the}^ are not dead ! 
And they still shall guard our banner, 

'Till the nations from afar 
Hail its Heaven-united orbits 

With no lost or fallen star ! 




■a^. ^^^^7?^. {3^etzi-:^iezxy , 



®, ^U^ nj omi Union 



0, Flag of our Union, though traitors would shroud thee, 
Beneath the dark folds of secession's black pall, 

Not a shade from its lowering sky ever shall cloud thee, 
Not a star from thine orbits of glory shall fall. 



Though the doors of old England ope' wide to our traitors, 
And she gives to each Arnold a home on her shore, 

Let our slave-drivers go amongst slavery's haters. 
We give her our scorn, and our outcasts no more. 



For we know that in England, the white, Southern cotton, 
Like charity, covers full many black sins ; 

Though she boasts on her soil that slave fetters fall rotten. 
Yet we know 'midst her paupers true slavery begins. 



Though the civilized world gazes on us with horror, 
And the South waves aloft her red parricide hand ; 

Yet we watch for a brighter, a glorious morrow, 
For the spirit of God is abroad in our land. 
e (25) 



26 

And we shrink not when gleameth the red eye of battle, 
'Midst the sulphureous smoke and the battery's glare ; 

We turn from the din of the musketry's rattle, 

And gaze upward with pride, for our flag still is there. 



0, flag of our Union ! a Washington bore thee, 
When carnage and slaughter encircled thy way ; 

And the God of our fathers still journeys before thee. 
A pillar by night, cloud of safety by day. 



The heart of the northland beat wild to the thunder, 
Which belched on old Sumter from liberty's foes, 

And when rent b}^ their shot, by their shell torn asunder 
It fell; — in that moment the great North arose. 



flag of our Union, thy folds still are flying, 

Thy stars still are gleaming through liberty's air. 

And we swear by our altars that, living or dying, 
Undimmed and unsullied, they still shall be there. 



Then on, whilst our banner waves proudly before us, 
We'll sheath not the sword and restore not the brand. 

Till the stars, which so brightly are glittering o'er us, 
Shall illume everv inch of Columbia's land. 



Wn^Mn^Un. 



'Tis but a name — a mere word of three sylables 
— and yet wliat memories are awakened by the 
repetition of that name ! It wafts us back to the 
days of 'Seventy-six — to the severely-contested 
battle fields of Bunker Hill and Trenton — to 
the encampment at Valley Forge, where a little 
band of patriots, the forlorn hope of the American 
army, once took up their head-quarters, willing 
to suffer, and, if need be, to die, in the cause of 
God and their native land. The scene changes. 
Peace has been proclaimed, and, gathered around 
their beloved Commander, stand the heroes of 
many a hard-fought battle, whilst he briefly, but 
feelingly, bids .them farewell, resigns his commis- 
sion, and retires to the shades of private life. 
But his country cannot yet afford to lose his ser- 
vices, and tvfice is the highest office within the 
gift of his countrymen bestowed upon him, but the 
third time he resigns, and once more retires to 
the rural shades of Mount Vernon, where he 
spends the remainder of a long and useful life, in 
the pursuits of agriculture and literature. King- 



28 

iloms may crumble, nations may perish, but the 
name and memory of that man shall never decay, 
and whilst one drop of blood courses through the 
veins of a single American, there shall still 
remain one heart whose pulsations are quickened 
by the mere mention of the name of the "Father 
of his Country," George Washington. It is 
whilst seated upon a grassy knoll, by the side of 
Washington's Tomb, that the foregoing reflections 
have passed through my mind. Though much 
has been said, and more written, upon the subject, 
still there remains no nobler theme which can 
employ the pen of an American writer than the 
praises of the "Father of his Country." I, 
therefore, trusting that even the feeble efforts of 
my poor pen may not be unacceptable, take the 
liberty of presenting to the approbation, or dis- 
approbation of my readers, the following lines : 



Beneath Mount Vernon's sacred sod, 

The *' Father of his Country" rests ; 
He bowed the knee to none but God, 

And spurned the tyrant's base behests. 
Firmly, in trial's darkest hour, 

Our country's banner he unfurled, 
And stemming the aggressor's power, 

Bade Freedom light the Western world. 



29 

The iirst in war his arms to take, 

The first in peace to lay them down, 
He battled for his country's sake, 

And woA a never-fading crown ; 
For, shrined within each Patriot's soul, 

Kis memory round each heart is twined, 
Though rolling years should cease to roll, 

On freedom's tablet 'tis enshrined. 



Kingdoms shall crumble into dust, 

Nations shall perish and decay, "^^ 
Before thy memory shall rust, 

Or from this earth shall pass away. 
And, ages hence, the earliest name 

The mother learns her lisping son. 
The highest on the scroll of fame, 

Shall be thy name — George Washington ! 



ull lun. 



'Twas the holy Sabbath morning, 

Yet along each wooded dell, 
The tramp of war-clad legions 

On the peaceful stillness fell : 
For our glorious star-gemmed banner 

Had been trampled in the dust, 
And its sons were round it rallying. 

To support their sacred trust. 



There was silence brooding o'er them, 

As they formed the battle line — 
The sons of Brave Rhode Island, 

And the Children of the Pine.* 
And, unwavering as the legend 

Written in the Book of Fate, 
Stood the soldiers of New Hampshire, 

For the dear old Granite State. 



■^Maine. 

(30) 



From eacti loyal State they gathered, 

Willing that their heart's best blood, 
For their country's pride and honor, 

Should dye deep the Southern flood. 
And they fell like leaves in Autumn, 

Smitten in the deadly fight, 
With their last cry for the Union, 

And their last blow for the right. 



Fought they well, and fought they bravely. 

Till the setting of the sun. 
Fearful odds — but twenty thousand 

'Gainst a host of ninety-one ! 
Yet they swept the traitor legions, 

As the reaper sweeps the grain, 
And charged down upon the foemen, 

'Midst a storm of leaden rain. 



Not in vain their lives were given, 

In useless, hopeless fray, 
For, from out the sacred soil on which 

Our noble soldiers lay, 
Shall spring up a fount of freedom, 

Strengthened by their patriot blood, 
V/hich shall cleanse our nation's treason, 

In its onward, sweeping flood. 



32 

Sleep they in the Old Dominion, 

Our brave and loyal dead ; 
Shall they ever be forgotten ? 

Not whilst Heaven's dews are shed 
On New Hampshire's granite mountains, 

Or the waves shall make their way, 
And break upon the boulders 

In old Massachusetts Bay. 



They have learned the South a lesson, 

Though the day they may have won ; 
Yet their traitor hearts must tremble, 

When they think of Bloody Run. 
And the glory resteth on us, 

When unequal forces meet, 
And the cause of right has gathered 

A victory in defeat. 



Few more battles would be needed, 

Like that fight, to break their cause, 
And to bow each traitor spirit 

To our just and holy laws. 
They may boast them of their victory, 

But each voice is hushed and still, 
As the British boast of victory. 

On the day of Bmiker Hill. 



33 

Fling out once again our banner. 

Let its stars float on the air. 
Safeguard of a nation's glory, 

Hallowed hj a nation's prayer. 
Kally 'neath its holy shadow, 

Till the nations from afar, 
Hail its Heaven-united orbits. 

With no lost or fallen star. 



ache moiiui 



The World is onward moving, 
Advancing and improving ; 
Let mortals say, 
Then, what they may. 
This fact to all is soothing. 



Then give no heed to grumblers, 
Mere sullen, moody mumblers ; 
The World moves still, 
Though up life's hill 
They may be heedless stumblers. 



The World is growing better. 
Tell to each ill-begetter ; 

There comes a dawn, 

A glorious morn, 
When we shall burst each fetter. 
(34) 



35 

The World advanceth ever ! 
Then pause not — falter, never ! 

Engrave on fame 

A glorious name, 
That thou may'st live forever ! 



There comes a sound of warning : 
A brighter day is dawning ; 

The tyrant's crown 

Shall crumble down, 
In Freedom's glorious morning. 



Then be thou up and doing, 
The better still pursuing ; 
Help on the day. 
Whilst yet you may, 
The past and gone ne'er rueing. 



Help on the glorious morning, 

When, Truth's bright day-star dawning 

Our Flag unfurled 

Shall sweep the World, 
The foes of Freedom scorning. 



nx ganR^^ (&ixU. 



Our Yankee girls ! When, on the wave, 

The bark is tempest tossed, 
When ocean seems the sailor's gi*ave, 

And every hope seems lost, 
What is it fires the seaman's breast, 

And backward from him hurls 
The clouds of fear, but thoughts of home, 

And of the Yankee girls ! 



'Neath the warm sun of foreign lands, 

Others may beauty seek, 
And yield them captive to the bands 

Of dark Italia's cheek. 
But yield I not to Spain's black eyes, 

Or British maiden's curls. 
My heart I yield, a willing prize. 

Unto the Yankee girls. 
(36) 



B7 

Whilst Yankee ships shall cross the sea, 

Or o'er the billows glide, 
The Yankee sailors e'er shall be, 

Their safeguard and their pride. 
And whilst one ship in foreign sea 

The stars and stripes unfurls — 
From Time until Eternity, 

Cod bless the Yankee girls. 



0tl ^Mt ami ^l^vi0ug l;ni0n, 



God save our glorious Union, 

For the clouds are gathering now, 
Which may blot the constellation 

Of bright stars from off her brow. 
Traitor hands would rend the banner 

Which so proudly is unfurled, 
And quench, in utter darkness, 
• The beacon of the world. 

Grod save our glorious Union ! 



God" save our glorious Union, 
When a vile, degenerate son. 

Like Toombs, has risen to sever 
The stars which should be one.' 

When our stars are disunited, 

And our flag in shame is furled — 

That proud flag which once has lighted 

Freedom's pathway through the world. 
(38) 



39 

Foul disgrace ! the land of Sumter 

To be first to break tlie band 
Which has bound, in friendly union, 

Both the North and Southern land ! 
That the children of the fathers 

Who fought in Freedom's wars 
Should dare disgrace our banner. 

With its proud old stripes and stars ! 
God save our glorious Union ! 



What proud son of South Carolina 

Will not blush for very shame, 
That her traitor sons should tarnish 

The glory of her name ? 
That the glorious land of Marion 

Should our banner's beauties mar, 
And be pointed at by nations, 

A disgraced and fallen star ? 



God save our glorious Union ! 

Keep it safe through treason's night ; 
God of Justice, God of Freedom, 

Guard, oh ! guard, support the right 
Stretch Thy Hand above our nation, 

Scatter treason's harpy band. 
Let our glorious constellation 

Shine, united, through the land ! 

God save our glorious Union 1 



^Ixt lattl^ d| MilliamBburj. 



" Heavy and solemn, 
A cloudy column, 
Through the green plain they marching come, 
Measureless spread, like a table dread, 

For the wild, grim dice of the iron game. 
Eyes are bent on the shaking ground. 
Hearts beat low with a knelling sound. 
Swift by the breasts that must bear the brunt. 
Gallops the Major along the front : 

' Halt :' 
And fettered they stand at the stark command, 
And the warriors, silent, halt." 

There ^^as a tremendous commotion throughout 
the entu^e afternoon of May the thh-d ; shot and 
shell flew through the ah' with a looseness which 
was refreshing to the beholder ; and the old settlers, 
who were well versed in the signs of the times, 
predicted a speedy migration of the rebels from the 
vicinity of Yorktown towards that far-famed, but 
somewhat mythical locality, known as the last ditch. 
Throughout the first half of the night the cannon- 
ading was kept up with but little intermission, and 
with as little damage. Towards morning the dogs 
(40) 



41 

of war, wearied witli their long night baying, 
ceased their clamor ; and as day broke over the 
ramparts, a small party of the Federals, who had 
started to unkennel the irreverent brutes who, 
with their hideous bowlings, had disturbed our slum- 
bers, found that the game had fled, and planted 
in triumph upon the earthworks the old flag of 
stars. 

But it was no part of McClellan's policy 
to allow the enemy thus to escape, and our col- 
umns were at once put in motion in pursuit. In 
heavy marching order, forty rounds of cartridges, 
two days' rations in haversacks, knapsacks packed 
and slung, Hooker's division led the advance, 
starting at a pace which bade fair, ere many hours, 
to place most of the men ""Jiors du combat. '' But 
the members of the division had all seen hard 
marching, and some of them hard fighting. Those 
who had never tasted the ho.rrors of war were 
anxious for their first experience ; and others, who 
had paid their initiation fee at Bull Bun, were 
anxious to wipe out in blood the disgrace of that 
day. So, throughout that May Sabbath, with 
minds too firmly bent upon the object of pursuit 
to feel fatigue, or to notice the beauties of the 
surrounding scenery, our troops pressed on. To- 
ward evening the cavalry in the advance came upon, 
charged and carried, with the usual complement 
of broken heads, smashed arms and bullet-riddled 



42 

legs, a small earthwork by the road-side ; and as 
we were now close upon the enemy's rear, and night 
with its darkness was upon us, a halt was ordered, 
and in a field by the roadside we lay down to sleep 
— a sleep which, for many, but shortly preceded the 
sleep which knows no waking. But don't be 
anxious, reader, I am not about to weary you with 
my moralizing ; it is no part of my business to 



"For why should we be melancholy, 
Whose business 'tis to die ?" 

The morning of May the fifth dawned cold, 
rainy and uncomfortable. Long before the cheer- 
less gray light which precedes the coming of day 
made its comfortless appearance, the shrill notes 
of the bugle aroused from their slumbers the 
weary men who were that day to do battle for all 
that they held deaj. The lines were soon formed, 
and after a march of three miles through mud and 
rain, the dropping fire of our skirmishers told that 
we were upon the enemy. A halt was at once 
ordered, companies deployed out, and at twenty- 
fiye minutes of six, Companies " B" and " E," of 
the Second New Hampshire Regiment, opened the 
ball. The main body of our army still remained 
under cover of the woods, nearly out of musket 
range, in comparative safety, watching the contest 
going on between the skirmishers of both armies. 



43 

But it was no part of the enemy's play to allow 
them to remain thus undisturbed ; and having 
obtained, with his artillery, excellent range, a 
rattling amongst the trees speedily ensued, which 
rendered the locality too warm to be agreeable. 
The troops were accordingly advanced into 
a slash of fallen timber, immediately fronting 
and within seven hundred yards of the enemy's 
main work. Fort Magruder. But the enemy were 
not to be taken in by so shallow a device, and 
believing that heavy bodies of infantry were still 
massed in the woods beyond, continued to distrib- 
ute their favors in that direction, in a manner 
which must have been highly edifying not only to 
the squirrels in that domain, but to our boys, who, 
laughing in their sleeves, lay almost undisturbed 
beneath the very shadow of their bristling line of 
works. But the battle now grew fiercer. Owing 
to the broken condition of the roads, our artillery 
had not, as yet, come up. Grape, canister, shrap- 
nel, shot and shell were poured hotly upon us, and 
still we had no means of replying in kind. Eyes 
and ears were strained anxiously to catch the 
sight or sound of artillery ; but not until the 
engagement had been in progress nearly three 
hours, did the heavy rumbling of wdieels and the 
cheerful- ring of the artillerists' bugle, tell that 
the long expected relief was at hand. The battery 
(United States Regular) advanced on the double 



44 

quick, came gallantly into action, and taking po- 
sition at a point blank range of five hundred 
yards, opened fire — one of the Parrots, at the 
third shot, dismounting a piece, which from its 
position on the earthworks had been making sad 
havoc in our ranks. More artillery now arrived, 
and the opposite side having also received rein- 
forcements, the action became general along the 
lines. Hooker seemed everywhere present, now 
directing the fire of our artillerists, and anon 
applauding the skill of the skirmishers, as the 
bullets from their rifles picked off the men man- 
ning some one of the enemy's pieces, and for a 
time suspended operations in that quarter. Again 
he would be seen galloping along the front, and 
encouraging the men, evincing, everywhere, that 
utter disregard of self, and care for the welfare 
of those under his command, which has so endeared 
him to every man in his division. Officers fell 
around Mm on all sides, and his horse was shot 
from under him ; but the gallant veteran's time 
had not yet come ; he was still to be spared for a 
glorious future; and procuring another horse, he 
rode on calm and — no I not self-sustained ! God 
sustained ! — the guiding genius of the fight ! 

Thus far, the very audacity of our proceedings 
had been our salvation. It was impossible for the 
enemy to believe that the mere handful of men com- 
posing our division would dare to attack him in his 



45 

stronghold. It was understood b j us that reinforce- 
ments were soon to be on the ground, and every 
ear was strained, hoping to catch the boom of 
Sumner's cannon. Why those cannon were not 
heard, save to the initiated, is unknown to this 
day. At one o'clock no reinforcements had 
arrived, and the enemy was evidently opening his 
eyes upon our weakness ; the fire of his cannon 
gradually ceased, the roar of the musketry became 
broken and dropping. Many hailed the dropping 
off of the enemy's fire as an omen of victory. 
But Hooker, with his more experienced eye, took 
in at a glance the exact position of affairs, and 
disposed his forces to meet, and if possible, repel 
the coming shock. A brigade of rebel cavalry 
now galloped to the front, formed line of battle, 
and then retired ; evidently perceiving the futility 
of attempting a cavalry charge in a spot where 
the ground Avas so broken and encumbered by 
fallen timber. Eor a few moments the silence was 
almost unbroken, save by the occasional discharge 
of our own artillery ; then from the earth works 
issued, in the most perfect order, regiment after 
regiment, and brigade after brigade, advancing 
with charged bayonets on the double quick, and 
giving vent to a succession of unearthly yells, which 
sounded as if all pandemonium had broken loose. 
At the same time their batteries opened with renew- 
ed vigor, and in a short time the roar of musketry 



46 

from the left told that the boys of the Sickles' 
Brigade were hot at it. It was evident by the 
manner in which the yells now advanced, now 
receded, that every inch of the ground was being 
closely contested, and that Secesh when he run 
against the boys from New York, had struck a 
snag. Meantime the coifee mills (patent guns) 
which Sickles had been the first to bring into use, 
kept up an incessant rattling, making themselves 
heard even above the din of musketry, and 
doing fearful execution in the enemy's closely 
packed ranks. The tide of battle surged fiercely 
and heavily to and fro — now the enemy would 
advance with fierce yells and gain a short distance, 
only to be pushed back with the hearty cheers of 
the New Yorkers ringing in their ears. At times 
the contest was even so close that powder was 
abandoned altogether, and hand-to-hand the foemen 
grappled and died. But human valor could avail 
but little against the overwhelming masses Avhich 
were now hurled upon the brigade, and having 
accomplished all that valor could accomplish, the 
Sickles' Brigade, fighting their way, slowly and 
sullenly retired, followed closely by the enemy. 
The Jersey Brigade next sustained the shock, 
coming nobly to their work, and proving them- 
selves not unworthy to bear the banner under 
which the men of Jersey fought and died, in the 
days of the revolution. Steadily and firmly they 



47 

met the enemy, checking for a time his advance, 
and strewing the ground with his dead. Butthej, 
in turn, were forced to retire, and but one brigade 
remained on which to hinge the fortunes of the 
day. 

Grover's Brigade now fell back a short distance 
and formed line of battle ; the Sickles' and Jer- 
sey Brigades re-forming, and with fixed bayonets 
awaiting the onset. They had not long to wait. 
On came the legions of the South, yelling and 
firing as they came. Down they swept, driving 
our troops until they reached the road. Here 
their progress was stayed. ''Thus far could they 
come but no farther." Charge after charge was 
made with a fury and impetuosity which bade fair 
to carry everything before it; but their " Rubicon 
had been reached," and could not be passed. 

All this time the shot and shell from Fort Ma- 
gruder, and the batteries inside the earth-works, 
were falling in our ranks with a precision which 
at least did credit to the skill of their artillerists, 
and accordingly a portion of the troops were 
ordered to take to the trees and look out for them- 
selves. The squirrel-hunters of New Hampshire 
were now at home ; from behind trees and stumps 
the crack of their unerring rifles rang forth the 
death-knell of many a traitor, and it was very 
evident that the old Second was in its glory. 



48 

Nor Y^as the remainder of the brigade idle ; the 
blaze of the musketry along their lines told that 
the Massachusetts First and Eleventh were rapidly 
scoring up the old debt contracted at Bull Run ; 
and the Pennsylvania Twenty-sixth marking for 
its first battle a page of glory. 

But our men were rapidly becoming exhausted, 
and the enemy still kept pouring in fresh troops. 
It could not hold so, long. At three o'clock our 
flank was turned and driven in upon the centre : 
our batteries captured ; the ground covered with 
our dead. Things looked dark. It now became 
evident that unless extraordinary measures were 
adopted all was lost. At this juncture an inci- 
dent occurred which proved that Heintzelman's 
knowledge of military strategy was equaled, if 
not excelled, by his knowledge of human nature. 
Galloping to the front, his hat svfinging in his 
hand, his white hair floating to the wind, he 
shouted, (as only he can shout,) "Hurrah ! Rich- 
mond is taken ! Music to the Front ! Bands 
strike up Yankee-doodle I The day is ours I Now 
boys cheer and go in;" and they did go in. The 
strains of Yankee-doodle, an air which no traitor 
can ever stand before, sounded above the din of" 
arms. The whole division, as with one impulse, 
rushed forward; our reinforcements came up on 
the double-quick, and the day was ours. From 



49 

the moment that Heintzehiian rode to the front 
to the moment when the enemy lied broken and 
disordered before the charge of Hancock's men, 
we felt that the tide of 'battle had turned, and 
"victory had perched upon our banners." 

The shattered remnants of our division now 
fell back, gathered around their colors, and in 
the mud, with the rain pouring upon them, lay 
down for the night: throughout the entire day 
unsupported they had borne the brunt of battle, 
and now, with ranks sadly shattered and deci- 
mated, they rested upon their arms. 

That a division of nine thousand men should, 
through an entire day, have withstood a force of 
forty thousand, is an assertion which seems almost 
too incredible for belief ; and that they were thus 
allowed to imperil the cause for which they fought, 
was a crime which will some day rest upon the 
shoulders where it rightly belongs. 

And what shall be said for our noble command- 
ers ? The charge made by Hancock was a 
brilliant affair of thirty minutes' duration. If he 
deserves, as he certainly does, the commendation 
bestowed upon him, what meed of praise shall be 
awarded to the veterans Heintzelman and Hooker, 
who, with the men under their command, for thir- 
teen hours withstood, successfully, the fire of the 



50 

enemy — wresting from the hand of fate, almost 
in the moment of defeat, the laurels of victory ? 
What meed of praise shall we a^ sly d them? The 
question may not be officially answered, but it 
certainly will be answered by the nation. 



^u ^ftm^tr ©grannis 



*Sic Semper Tyrannis, emblazon the shield 

With the motto ; on Liberty's flag let it wave; 

Imprint the proud words on the clear azure field 

Of the banner which bears the bright stars of the brave. 

Sic Semper Tyrannis ; Columbia's star, 

A beacon shall gleam for the old world's oppressed; 

And her cannon to tyranny utter : thus far 

Shalt thou come, and no farther ; thine waves Iiere must rest. 



'Tis the doctrine of freedom, its words first were spoke 

From the cannon, which belched on old Bunker's proud 

height. 

And where'er it was uttered, through darkness there broke 

The rays of a dawning, a glorious light ; 

'Twas engrafted at Trenton on patriot hearts, 

And a Washington thundered its creed to the world, 

And where'er it was heard, there the fieriest darts 

'Gainst the hearts of our Country's oppressors were hurled. 

*The motto of A'irginia. 

(5]) 



62 

Sic Semper Tyrannis, the stripes and the stars, 

To the true of all nations, a welcome shall give, 

And her broad fields of plenty, are closed by no bars, 

For the doctrine of freedom is live, and let live ; 

But a foe to all tyrants is every son 

Of the Sires, who so nobly for liberty bled, 

And the race of their power, forever is run. 

E'er they stride o'er the fields of our glorious dead. 



0, Genius of Liberty! well mayst thou stand 
And keep guard o'er thine trust, with affection and pride, 
And stretch thj broad wings o'er Columbia's land, 
And bless her white fleets, as they float on the tide, 
For her sons are thj/ children, thhie Altars, their shrine, 
And the land bows a worshipper's knee at thy feet, 
And it needs but the word, but the mandate of thine, 
To hurl on thy foemen, the fires of her Fleet. 



So always to Tyrants, if foes should assail, . 

It shall echo to freemen the rallying cry, 

And the cheek of the foeman shall blanch and turn pale, 

As the banner v.^hich bears it floats out on the sky. 

Oh, ever upon the proud Flag of tlie free, 

Be it thrown to the breeze, star of glory to wave. 

Let it float o'er our fleets, as they sweep o'er the sea, 

And fall, but to rest on the last Tj^'anfs grave. 



®xt\\ 41 aj. 



Flag of a nation's story, 
In battle and in foray, 

Thine folds shall fly 

Across the sky, 
The emblem of our glory. 

Dark Treason's hand is lifted, 
Its clouds have round us drifted, 

Yet still -v^e swear. 

Through freedom's air 
Thy starlight shall be rifted. 

We rally to defend thee, 
Wherever God may send thee ,' 

The arm of might 

Is bared for fight, 
And He His strength shall lend thee. 

Proudly our eyes are resting 
Where, storm and battle breasting, 

Thy bright folds sweep. 

O'er land and deep, 

Each tower and rampart cresting. 

(53) 



54 

Oh, traitor hands shall never, 
One bright orb from thee sever ; 

Thy stripes and stars, 

O'er chains and bars, 
Shall soar triuropliant ever. 

Though roars the British Lion, 
Though foes thy way environ. 
Firm hearts of oak 
Shall ward each stroke, 
Unbending as the iron. 

For where the King is Cotton, 
There must be something rotten, 

There's little fear 

To be felt here, 
Of nations so besotten. 

Our own proud flag is o'er us. 
The foeman stands before us, 

We'll ne'er sheath brand 

Till every land 
Shall join in freedom's chorus. 



ih^ gid(Un Wi^ll 



In the midst of a plain the Aveeds gi'ew dank— 

Save in arid spots where lay the sand — 
And their thirsty moviths the rain-drops drank, 

Nor left a trace of their moist'ning hand ; — 
All around was silent, and sad, and still, 

As blasted by Desolation's breath, 
Save when the notes of some wild bird shrill 

Startled the air like the cry of death. 



No human habitation was near ; 

Few were the feet that had trod the plain ; 
And no reaper's voice rang full and clear. 

As bowed the heads of the ripened grain ; — ■ 
But the weeds grew up and withered there, 

And the plain was dreary, sad and lone ; 

And the autumn left it sear and bare, 

To the tempests sweep and the wild winds moan. 
■ (50) 



56 

Bufc an angel passed by the place and smiled, — 

And wliere that smile like a sunbeam fell, 
In the midst of rank weeds and fern-leaves wild, 

Sprang up in the desert a hidden well ; — 
Like the garden of God that desert bloomed, 

As the hidden well its moisture shed, 
And sweet flowers the desert air perfumed, 

Where the noxious weeds their poison spread. 



There are human hearts which are deserts now, 

And only by storms of passion stirred ; 
Ah ! bright may they bloom could they learn to bow 

To the angel's smile— a kindly word! 
But the storms of sorrow, the blasts of scorn 

Have left them lonely, and sad^ and drear ; 
And there breaks on their night no gladdening morn 

To cheer the gloom of their pathway here. 



But a kindly word may illume the plain. 

And stir the deep fountains of the soul ; 
The desert may bloom 'neath the ripening grain. 

As the passions bow to the mind's control; — 
And all may be beauty and life and light, 

Awakened to being by the spell 
Of a kindly word which has banished night 

And stirred the depths of the hidden well. 




t?(f^e^€>i^^^J^^c/ . 



%i\m utit^tten on WimMw^Wn liittMag. 



Peal on ye bells, let freedom's flame 

Ligliten Heaven's highest arch of glory, 
Record the birth of one whose name, 

Is hallowed in our country's story. 
Of him, whose deeds by glory's hand. 

Are graven upon history's pages, 
The Father of his native land ; 

Peal forth his name to coming ages. 



Proclaim it from the cannon's mouth, 

From every mountain top and valley, 
From East to West, from North to South, 

Where'er the sons of freedom rally. 
O'er earth's wide universal plains. 

Where'er is spread our vast dominions, 
Proclaim his praise who burst our chains 

And freed the Eagle's shackled pinions. 
F. (57) 



58 

And echo forth a nation's praise, 

Through earth's vast halls, till time shall sever ; 
Peal out through never ending days. 

His name, whose memory lives forever. 
Proclaim it from the cannon's mouth, 

From every mountain top and valley. 
From East to West, from North to South, 

Where'er the sons of freedom rally. 



^ ^onjg fott the ^qond- 



A song for the Second, that gallant old band, 

AVho through all of this war's desolation, 
Have fought for their homes and their dear native land^ 

To preserve us a country and nation. 
Then cheer for the Second ; the flag of the free 

From its empire no traitor shall sever ; 
For its folds by our soldiers supported shall be. 

" The flag of our Union forever and ever, 
The flag of our Union forever !" 



When the Southrons rose up in their terrible might, 

To hurl on the Northmen their thunder. 
The Grranite State flag in the thickest of fight, 

Bade the traitorous foe '^stand from under" ; 
And at Williamsburg's battle, when dark looked the 
day, 

O'er the field red with carnage and gory, 
Swept the flag of the Second, through battle array 

The ensign of triumph and glory. 

Then cheer for the Second, etc. 

(59) 



60 

At the closing Bull Eun when the order to charge 

Was given, the foemen soon reckoiled 
Their advance had attained to its uttermost marge, 

For down swept the gallant old Second ; 
Their ranks by the cannon were shattered and torn, 

By war's tempest their banner was riven. 
But still they swept on, tho' their hope seemed forlorn 

For each star was a beacon from heaven. 



Then a song for the Second, that gallant old band, 

With the Granite State flag waving o'er them. 
They still strike for their homes, and their God-given 
land, 

For the flag, and the country which bore them. 
And ne'er from that flag shall one God penciled star 

From its Union's blest firmament sever, 
For the Second's proud war-cry shall echo afar, 

" The flag of our Union forever and ever, 
The flag of our Union forever." 



Satit^s lefore raid friitat from licftmDntl, 



up, freemen of the North ! 

Uplift the arm of might ! 
The Nation sends her children forth 

To battle for the right. 

Williamsburg had been taken ; the rebels were 
again in full retreat, and it only remained to 
follow closelj upon their footsteps, harass their 
rear, and, if possible, bring about another general 
engagement, ere they could reach their line of 
defence upon the Chickahominj. To accomplish 
this object, and intercept the enemy at West 
Point, Franklin's Corps was at once sent up the 
River upon transports, and a strong column pushed 
forward by land, whilst Hooker's overworked 
troops remained inactive in camp, recovering from 
the effects of their forced march and subsequent 
battle But it was not destined that we should 
remain long in idleness, and we were soon wending 
again our weary way, through the swamps and 
marshes of the Peninsula. The march was much 

(61) 



62 

like other marches, through a country held by 
our own forces, uninterrupted by the enemy. 
Little incidents were constantly occurring, break- 
ing in upon the monotony of an army movement, 
through an almost desolate tract of country, and 
enlivening the dullness of the way. But troops 
having preceded us, and removed all obstacles, we 
passed quietly along toward our place of destina- 
tion. Along the line of march, carriages firmly 
imbedded in the mud, horses dead by the roadside, 
blankets, knapsacks and old muskets lying scat- 
tered about, told their ow^n tale of the haste and 
confusion in which their proprietors had journeyed 
from before the face of our army, toward their 
sacred city of Richmond. Everywhere the 
devastating marks of war were visible. At Sla- 
terville, a little village owned and mainly occupied 
by a man bearing the name of Slater, and his 
dependents, we came upon the ground where the 
Fifth United States Cavalry had but a few days 
previous made a gallant charge upon a body of 
Rebels, defeating and completely routing them 
from their position, with considerable loss on both 
sides. One of the buildings had been struck by 
a solid shot, which passed completely through, 
smashing furniture and 'everything else in its path, 
and making a lodgment in an adjacent bank. 
Cornfields were trampled down, the fences torn 
away, and the stacks transported toward the 



63 

classical regions of '' Dixie." The proprietor was 
*'secesli" to the back-bone, and, with Yankee 
soldiers guarding what little property his friends 
had left him, persisted in the assertion that it had 
all come to pass through the agency of the 
^' cursed Yankees." Leaving the domain owned 
and inhabited by this disconsolate individual, we 
passed slowly on to the village of New Kent. 
Here the court house was closed, the jail burned, and 
its blackened walls and gates standing dreary and 
empty — a fit emblem of that empty, tottering fabric 
which its destroyers are endeavoring to support. 
And, to digress from my subject, why is it 
that the confederates entertain such an aversion, 
such a deadly hatred, to all places of confinement? 
Wherever our armies have made their appearance, 
whatever else may have h^QJi left intact, the rebels 
have almost invariably destroyed their prisons. Is 
the act of destruction prompted by a tenderness of 
conscience, or do they think that a different race 
having taken possession of their homes, there 
will be no further need of prisons 'f Whatever 
may be the cause, it is very evident that " there 
is something rotten in Denmark." M this place 
we encamped, and remained until the next day, 
when we again took up the line of march for 
Poplar Hill, where in due course of time we 
arrived, established pickets, and prepared to enjoy 
a brief season of comparative rest. Here we 



64 

settled, once more, to the dull routine of camp 
life and camp duty, and, for a time, were allowed 
to retain peacefully our position. 

But on the afternoon of May 31st, the distant 
booming of cannon warned us that vfork was once 
more at hand. A fight was in progress on the right, 
and as our division held the extreme left, and guard-^ 
ed the approach by White Oak Swamp, we were at 
once ordered under arms, and placed in position on 
the commanding hills. The cannonading was inces- 
sant, and orders were soon received for the Second 
Jersey and Sickles' Brigades to march at once 
to the battle ground, leaving Grrover's Brigade to 
hold the position ; the order was received by the 
men with cheers, and in heavy marching order, 
they were soon upon their way toward the scene 
of strife, distant some seven miles. Night had 
intervened between the combatants ere they reached 
the ground, and taking position in the woods at 
the rear of our first line of rifle pits, they awaited 
in silence the coming of the day. No earthly 
position, perhaps, is more solemn than the posi- 
tion of those who await, through the still watches 
of the night, the coming of the morrow's conflict. 
The communion one will hold with himself at such 
an hour, the mysterious darkness surrounding and 
enveloping him in its mantle, the uncertainty of 
the strife, all combine to create sensations which 
are but seldom experienced in a lifetime. There 



65 

are dear ones at home yfho are waiting for him ; 
there are ties which bind him to distant hearths ; 
there is all that render life sweet and death a 
bitterness ; perhaps, on the morrow, the heart 
which now beats so warmly, so truly, so lovingly 
for the distant ones, may be cold in death and 
forgotten — no ! not forgotten ! Thank God ! 
though it only occasion a sweet misery, for every 
patriot heart which has grown cold in death, warm 
and loving hearts have reared monuments which 
shall be more lasting, more enduring than the 
senseless blocks of marble chiseled by the hand 
of the sculptor, for the world's so-called '' Great." 
And so, through the darkness of that night, with 
thoughts too sacred to be made known, save to 
the Creator, upheld by the justice of the cause 
for which they were to battle, our troops awaited 
the approaching conflict. The day at length 
dawned, revealing the confederates drawn up in 
line of battle. At six A. M., a sortie was made 
by Longstreet's division, but was repulsed, and 
the Jersey brigade ordered forward to drive the 
enemy from his position; they at once advanced, 
charged, and at the point of the bayonet, drove 
the rebels before them, through the Fair Oaks 
Swamp, fairly clearing the woods, and after a 
brisk engagement of an hour and thirty minutes, 
were relieved by the Sickles' brigade, which came 
up in splendid style, and by a brilliant charge, 



66 

converted the retreat of the already half-defeated 
enemy into a disorderly rout, pursuing them as 
far as a high board fence, which stood at a dis- 
tance of three hundred yards from the road, and 
with their bayonets materially assisting the celer- 
ity of their movements, as they scrambled in haste 
and terror to the further side. At eleven A. M., 
the ground from which Casey had been driven was 
again in our possession ; the enemy had retreated 
and our forces remained the masters of the day. 
Leaving many of their bravest and truest upon 
the field, the Jersey and Sickles' brigades now 
retired ; around them lay, by thousands, the 
dead and dying ; but tired nature could endure 
no more, and such as were allowed, sank dovvn 
and were soon in a deep slumber. Through the 
entire morning they had borne well their part, 
in one of the most sanguine conflicts whose thun- 
ders have. ever shaken the American continent, 
by their deeds adding new lustre to the banner 
whose stars have never been sullied, save by the 
damning stain of Southern treason. The battle 
of Fair Oaks left our army so badly cut up that 
it was impossible to pursue the advantage we had 
gained, and follow the enemy to the walls of his 
city ; McClellan accordingly determined to con- 
tinue operations by the same system of regular 
approach, which had proved so successful before 
Yorktown. A change was made in the dispo- 



67 

sition of the troops — Hooker's division occupying 
the position formerly held by Casey's command 
upon the Fair Oaks battle field, and Casey's 
division relievins: Hooker at the left flank of 
the army. The men were at once set to work 
clearing away the debris of battle, burying the 
dead and caring for the wounded ; but so many 
had fallen that the work could be but imperfectly 
performed, and for weeks the stench from the 
decaying relics of humanity was sickening. 

{Continued in Vol. II.) 



4lsjg 0f tht ^rtt. 



Flag of the free, flag of the brave, 
The dearest boon thou e'er hast given 

Thy sons, is here to find a grave, 

To die for thee, for home, for heaven ; 

No foot should ever press thy sod. 

That owns a tyrant for its God. 

Flag of the free, our fathers sought 
To find the pilgrim's home 'neath thee. 

And with their heart's best blood they bought 
The priceless birthright of the free. 

Until the wished for, sought for land. 

Was opened to that hardy band. 

Flag of the free, thy folds unfurled. 
Shall float o'er every land and zone, 

'Till, nestling 'neath those folds, the world 
Shall bow to freedom's God alone ; 

Whilst peace and plenty from on high, 

Proclaim thine hour of triumph nigh. 
(68) 



69 



Flag of tlie free, when o'er the wave. 
The war cloud gathers thick and fast, 

The hero, ere he finds a grave, 

Looks toward thee, smiles, and breathes his 
last : 

So it has been and e'er shall be, 

'Till the last freeman rests 'neath thee. 



Forever shall the stripes and stars, 

Float over every land and sea. 
Breaking the captive's chains and bars. 

And spreading light and liberty ; 
The oppressed shall shelter find 'neath thee. 
Flag of the brave, flag of the free. 



®A^ to (Kohtmbia;. 



Columbia ! Columbia ! land of the brave and free, 

The blood of thy forefathers bought, 
Thy dearest rights for thee ; 

For thee on Bunker's towering height, 
A Warren's blood was shed ; 

For thee among the men of might, 
A fearless Putnam bled ! 

For thee thy countrymen hare stood 
And bravely stemm'd the invading foes, 

Whilst o'er them all, the great and good 
George Washington arose ! 

For thee the great of every land. 
Have nobly fought and bled ; 

Columbia ! Columbia ! Mourn for thy noble Dead. 
(70) 



©i^to^H 



On tl^e tented field the bugles tone 

Had ceased, and the gory plain 
Re-echoed the curse, and the dying groan, 
And the shout, and the prayer, and the wailing moan 

Of the fevered heart and brain. 

And the stars looked down from the azure blue, 
And hushed was the zephyr's breath, 

As it gazed on that scene with its gory hue, 

Alike on the false heart and the true. 
Forever hushed in death. 

There peaceful reposing, side by side, 

The Orescent, and Crosier lay, 
And the forms of those who in manly pride, 
'Midst the thundei'ing charge did onward ride, 

On the dawn of that bloody day. 

But no more shall echo their battle cry. 

No more their triumphant shout. 
Resound from the heavens to the dusky sky ; 
No more shall victory light the eye, 

'Midst the resistless charge or rout. 
(71) 



In a distant land rose the widow's wail, 

And hushed was the voice of mirth, 
And the heart grew sad, and the cheek grew pale 
As they list'ned to hear the heart-rending tale, 
Of his fate who had ceased from earth. 

And upon that field a warrior stood, 

And gazed with heaving breast, 
Upon broken Morrion, and on crest. 
And upon the hince, now laid in rest, 

All dabbled in human blood. 



And he mused awhile, then sadly said : 

" And thus it must ever be ; 
The ground deep strewn with the noble dead. 
And the gory field, where they fought, and bled, 

Is the price of victory." 




&^^.' "V^^^- &^^^yei:f. 



ottjg J^go 



When the daylight is declining. 
And the deep'ning shadows, twining, 

Through my lattice come and go, 
List I to the vesper pealing, 
And my heart deep draughts is stealing 
From the swelling founts of feeling. 

In the realms of long ago. 

When the twilight earth has darkened, 
Oft times have I sadly harkened 

To the ceaseless ebb and flow 
(Jf the restless, tireless ocean, 
In its never ceasing motion, 
With its angry, wild commotion, 

Whispering me of long ago. 

When Night's mantle earth is covering, 
Noiseless forms are round me hovering 

Of departed friend and foe. 
Oft I rouse me from my sleeping, 
Watch 'th.ose forms around me creeping, 
All ray 'wildered fancy steeping 

In the thoughts of long ago. 

F (73) 



74-. 

Friends on whom my hopes were centered, 
Friends who long ago have entered 
Brighter realms than ours beloAV ; 
Midst your endless life of pleasur-e, 
Thralled by music's sweetest measure, 
Bo ye miss no loved, lost treasure 
In the realms of long ago ? 

And when Luna's gentle light is "^ 
Shed through halls where never night is, 

Angels flitting to and fro, 
Miss ye not midst heavenly flowers 
One with whom in vanished hours 
Ye have roamed through earthly bowers 

In the realms of long ago ? 

Hope ye not to be united 

Where the evening star is lighted. 

Never parting more to know 
With the loved and the true hearted? 
Have no tears of sorrow started 
As ye. thought of those who parted 

From your side in long ago ? 

Still those forms my questioning heed not : 
Angel visitants, they need not 

Commune hold with us below. 
Still those forms around me flitting, 
In the halls of fancy sitting. 
Deem the only answer fitting — 

Long ago, long, long ago ! 



%ilvK\xc^: 



'Tis written ou our Northern shore ; 

We see its lightnings glance ; 
We hear its waves of echo roar, 
And on our cannons' thunders pour 

The Nation's cry — Advance ! 

It echoes down the Southern vales : 

It breaks a Nation's trance ; 
The traitor's cheek before it pales, 
As onwarid borne byFreedom's gales 

Rings out the cry — Advance ! 

Advance, Freedom ! though thy way 
Should lead through blood and flame ; 

We hail thy banner 'midst the fray — 

Its stars foretell a brighter day, 
To light our Nation's fame. 

Thy beacon-star yet burneth bright ; 

We hear thy rolling drum; 
And in the thickest of the fight, 
To crush, 'neath carnage, Treason's might, 

Thy gallant Norjiimen come. 
(75) 



76 

Their footsteps sound along each giade ; 

From polished sword and lance — 
From flashing bayonet and blade — 
From rising sun — from deep'ning shade. 

Rings forth the word — Advance ! 

Advance! we echo forth the cry ; 

It tells of bondage riven ; 
The Nation's triumph hour is nigh — 
Its flashes light the western sky — 

It gleams along our heaven. 

It lighteth up old Sumter's walls ; 

We see its sunlight glance 
On Charleston's doomed and traitorous halls, 
And Treason's shameful emblem falls 

Before our cry — Advance! 

It streams along Potomac's shore, — 
It toucheth Richmond's towers ; 

Our flag of stars floats free once more. 

Its folds aloft in triumph soar, — 
Hurrah! the day is ours. 

Soon Peace with circling wings of light, 

Our freedom shall enhance, 
Our shattered fragments reunite, 
And in prosperity and might 

Our Union shall advance. 



®o thj lioiith. 



Wake, freemen of the glorious North, 

And 'neath j^our banners rally ; 
The time has come to muster forth 

From, every hill and valley, 
Down on the traitor foemen sweep, 

For right, not might, contesting ; 
Charge on each bristling hill and steep. 

The storm of battle breasting-. 



"What though your blood should stain the land 

Your fathers stained before you, 
So that ye sleep on freedom's strand, 

Our starry banner o'er you. 
Far better 'twould be here to sleep, 

In freedom's own dominion. 
Than live our Country's shame to weep, 

The Southron's downtrod minion. 
(77) 



78 

The great Northwest is rousing up, 

A giant in its waking, 
To brim with terror treason's cup, 

Its sin bound columns breaking ; 
The North is arming for the fight. 

To strike for home and honor, 
And whilst she battles for the right, 

God's blessing be upon her. 



Disunion's hand shall never blot 

One star from off our Banner, 
Whilst freedom finds a resting spot 

On hill or wide savannah. 
The very land which gave us birth, 

With which we hold communion, 
Each spot of consecrated earth 

Breaths forth the soul of Union. 



Sons of the North whose fathers fought 

To gain our nation's glory, 
Who, strong in weakness, rallied forth 

To form a nation's story : 
On you the eyes of Europe rest, 

Our hearts, our hopes are with you ; 
Strike home ! disunion's legions breast, 

And God the victory give you. 



79 

Smite once again as 'erst ye smote, 

Crush down the hosts of faction, 
Which, with insidious pen, has wrote 

Our Country's dire distraction, 
To party claims a,rx(i private aims 

The gallant death-blow dealing. 
Let freedom's stars float on the air, 

A nation's might revealing. 



Oh ! 'tis a proud, a glorious sight, 

A nation in its power 
Rising to vindicate the right, 

And hold its sacred dower. 
Press on 'till each enfranchised land 

With which we hold communion, 
Shall toward Columbia stretch the hand 

And hail our new born Union. 



lit^ |or ^omi^thing 



Live for something ! up ! be doing ! 

Sit not down with folded hands ! 
Steadfastly thy way pursuing, 

Wield the hammer, till the lands ! 
With thy strong right arm demolish 

lyalls of ignorance and crime ; 
From thee every wrong abolish, — 

Write thy name upon thy time ! 



Speed the plow that clears the stubble 

From the darkened human mind ; 
Persevere through toil and trouble ; 

Gain the blessings of mankind. 
Forward ! in thy noble labor, — 

Ever faithful to the end ; 
Think each man thy brother — neighbor 

Be of human rights the friend ! 
(80) 



81 , 

Raise thy brother who is falling; 

Lead him back to wisdom's ways ; — 
From the paths of error calling, 

Peace shall crown his future days. 
Think that though his feet have wandered, 

And his past you must regret, — * 
Though his talents he has squandered, 

Stiil he is thy brother yet ! 

Look thou forward for the dawning 

Of a bright, a glorious day ; 
Labor for a happier morning ; 

Be thy motto : " Watch and pray ! " 
Clouds ai*e gathering mercy laden : 

Blessings scatter o'er thy way ; 
Press thou toward the blissful aiden, — 

See ! above thee dawns the day. 

Live for something ! look above thee ! 

Let thy course be upward still ! 
Give the world some cause to love thee, 

And some holy task fulfill. 
Forward ! in thy noble labor, — 

Ever faithful to the end ; 
Think each man thy brother — neighbor ; 

Be of human rights the friend ! 



%mtr[icn: 

A% Historical Poem, in Three Cantos. 



CANTO I. 

INVOCATION. 

Harp of the West ! awake thine slumbering strain, 

And o'er thine chords, by inspiration borne, 
Let not my trembling hand move all in vain, 

Without from thee receiving a return. 
Though all unworthy of thy favor I, 

Yet, grant, oh ! grant it me for one short day, 
My task performed, that I may lay thee by. 

And peaceful mingle with my kindred cl»y. 
And whilst thine mystic spells across me steal, 

Warming my inmost soul with power divine. 
Make me, oh, make me I magic Harp, to feel ' 

What blessings shower this native land of mine ! 

It was a winter's morn when first they stood, 
The stern forefathers of our native land. 

And gazed o'er hill and dale, o'er rock and flood. 
And knelt, to praise their Maker, on tiie strand. 

From Albion's sea-girt isle by base oppression driven, 

Appealing here, from tyranny, to Heaven, 
(82) 



Amidst the leafless forests of the West, 
Our fathers reared the altars of the free ; 

And there their efforts Heaven in kindness blest — 
After long suffering — with prosperity, 

Till the oppressor, with his iron rod, 

Sought to bow those who bowed to none but God. 

\ 
Then screamed the eagle from his rocky height ! 

That war-cry echoed through the IS^estern world. 
Summoning its sons to battle for the right, 

'Round where their starry banner was unfurled. 
And from their ranks a Washington arose, 
To turn the tide of war 'gainst th' invading foes. 

The reigning King of England, George the Third, 
Noted for his abuse of kingly power. 

Who of Columbia's wealth had often heard, 
Laid new oppressions on them hour by hour. 

But George the Third, since then, has lived to see 

The Yankees mix, too salt, a cup of tea. 



Changes the scene. It is the evening hour ; 

A calm pervades, as when some deepening cloud 
Shuts out Old Sol's rays from their wonted power — 

And hangs o'er hill and dale a funeral shroud. 
There's nought around but quiet and repose ; 

The laborer rests ; for now his work is done. 
But, hark I what cry but now so fierce arose ? 

'Tis blood for vengeance cries ! blood spilt at Lexington ! 



84 

To arms, ye brave men ! Shall the iron hand— ' 
Of a base foeman claim ye for its slaves ? 

No ! Firmly guarding your dear native land, 
Remain unconquered, even to your graves ! 



Time files. Its wheel around its cycle rolls, 
Nor heeds the mutterings of the smothered fire 

Which burns within the patriots' unawed souls. 
Waiting the word to light the funeral pyre 

Of tyi'anny, ana o'er its ruins rear 

A temple which the nations may revere. 
Still changes not the Briton's iron sway. 

Oppression on oppression ; acts which chill 
Humanity and wear its founts away, 

Are laid upon them. Murder, deeds which thrill 
The soul with dread, repeated day by day, 
'Till just as seems expiring freedom's ray, 

It speaks, in thunder tones, at Bunker's Hill I 



Morn spreads its golden banner o'er the sky, 

And tints, with glorious hues, the Mystic's wave. 
Before its rays the dun mists fade and fly. 

The stream, which, 'ere the eve, shall be the grave 
Of many a heart which beats with life's warm tide, 

Ripples still on ; and where its waters lave 
The tri-mount city, murmureth in its pride, 

Past isle and fort, into the ocean wide. 

But, see ! where, when the summer sunset died, 
Naught but the hill, robed in its verdure, lay. 



85 

Towering aloft, in rougli, unconscious pride, 
Freedom's young rampart greets the coming day. 

So silent had the uncouth structure rose, 
It seemed as spirit hands had lent their might 

To work with freedom 'gainst the assailing foes, 
And rear a Tbulwark to defend the right . 

But, hark the boom of the alarum gun ! ' 
The British Lion foams upon the track ; 

Along the line th,e warning note has run, 
And echo gives its tones of thunder back. 

The British fleet at anchor in the bay, 
Pours on the devoted town its iron storm. 

And through the morning's dun and misty gray, 
Batters the bulwark's un-replying form. 

But yet the unawed Patriots labor still, 
-Nor heed the hurtling messengers of death. 

Stern sons of freedom, men of iron will, 
With heaving chests and deep drawn, labored breath, 

With spade and pick, mightier than sword and spear, 

An altar for their new-born freedom rear. 

The British warriors marshal 'neath the shade 
Of the old oak, which on the common rears 

Aloft its branches, and, as on parade 

The squadrons of the mighty host appears, 

No fear is shadowed in the soldier's eye ; 
They look but on it as a gala day, 

Nor deem they that they go but forth to die- 
Why should that army, in its proud array. 

Shrink from a band of rebels, who will fly 

Before tliem, f)s the mists across the sky ? 



86 

But now they onward march, in pomp and power, 
The bannered legions of the host advance. 
^ Tremble, ye rebels, for the trial hour 
Has come ; and, in the polished bayonet's glance, 

Read ye your doom. The sun's last rays, perchance, 
May see ye fly before the Briton's lance ! 



Sternly the hill presents its stubborn front, 

As to invite the foeman to assail. 
And dare the cannon's shock, the battle's brunt. 

Nor blanch its bold defenders, nor turn pale. 
Ah ! on thy grounds, ere those defenders flee, 

Ere yet the sun shall sink, the arm shall fail — 
Thy sons shall shed their hearts' best blood for thee, 

And deeds which live in story, be perfoi-med. 
In years to come, Columbia's sons shall gaze, 

In pride and wonder, where the iron storm 
Ploughed the embankment, and the battle's blaze 

A bale-fire burned upon thy towering crest, 

And sank the expiring patriot to rest. 
A Warren made immortal, hallow thee, 

And 'grave, on history's page, a deathless name, 
Which no dark wave of Time's advancing sea, 

Shall wash from ofi" the chronicles of fame. 
And many a hero baptize, with his blood, 

The land's young freedom, and a tide shall pour, 
Which, in its ebb, with a resistless flood, 

Shall sweep the base invader from our shore. 

[Continued in Vol.11.) 



§0 tht ^outh 



Huzzah! our flag of stars once more, 

Floats freely to Carolina's breeze ; 
Our troops, are landed on her shore, 

Qur ships, are anchored in her seas. 
And traitor eyes may glance on high 

To where our banner, in full glory, 
Sweeps proud, across the Southern sky. 

And call to mind the past's dark story. 



How that, when Tarlton's bloody men, 

With fire and sword, laid waste their altars ; 
Our Northern hearts, from hill and glen, 

Drove forth their sister State's assaulters ; 
How we have borne with wrong and shame, 

And still have held with them communion, 
With every mean and paltry name. 

And all to save our glorious Union. 
(b7) 



88 

How that when sweeping towards the north 
There came the warning sounds of treason ; 

We moved no steel clad columns forth. 

. But tried the might, the power of reason. 

We've borne with insult, hate, and scorn ; 
A world was looking on and scorning, 

They little deemed how near the dawn 

Which yet should light our Union's Morning. 



But when 'gainst Sumptei^'s walls were dashed 

The missile^ of a traitor's ire ; 
The blaze, which from their cannon flashed 

Set every Northern heart on fire. 
The sons of those who met the shock 

Which Britons hurled upon our shore; 
Stern as old Plymouth's storm beat rock, 

Forth once again tlieir columns pour. 



Look to it. South Carolina, when 

Our stars are over Beaitfort sweeping, 
For soon the voice of Northern men 

May wake proud Charleston from her sleeping. 
We make no boast, we threat ye not, 

But only for the right contesting ; 
We come, our country's shame to blot, , 

The storm of Southern treason breasting. 



89 

Light up agaiu your batteries' blaxe. 

Pour forth your iron storm upon U3, 
Your battle fires will shed forth rays 

To cast a new born glory on us ; 
And still where falls a Northern heart 

A thousand more stand freely willing, 
into its place at once to start, 

With joy, its post of danger filling. 



Ye know not, how the very air 

Which sweeps' across our Northern mountains^ 
Is consecrated by the prayer 

Of those who drink at freedom's fountains ; 
That lie who guides the rolling spheres, 

With whom our souls hold deep communion, 
Through all the coming lapse of years, 

May- save and guard our glorious Union. 



Ye hear not ! tVom New Hampshire's hills., 

The shout whicJi on the breeze is swelling. 
The Bay State to the echo thrills. 

Its every note of Union telling ; 
Ye know not ! liow that hand in hand. 

To crush oui treason's fires, where lighted ; 
They come I A brave and fearless band, 

The NorHi au<l groat Novtli-west united. 



90 

Look to it ! South Carolina, for 

Where treason's serpent folds are tjjrining, 
A Rainbow on the cloud of war 

Our flag of stars shall soon be shining ; 
Soon over all the Southern land 

Which' treason's blasting breath has blighted 
Its folds shall 'Sweep from strand to strand, 

And bless our States again united. 



%\lp. 



Lie down in thine ashes, proud New Orleans ! , 
Let the smoke of thy fires shroud thy desolate scenes J 
There's a stain on thy garments no ashes may hide; 
Thine escutcheon is blotted, and humbled thy pride ; 
And, false to thy country, to Liberty's trust. 
It is meet thou shouldst lie in thine ashes and dust ! 

Lie down in thine ashes, though proud was the name 
Which was written for thee in the records of Fame; — 
No minstrel may siug^hee, though weeping thy fall, 
For the curse of thy treason is over it all ! 
There's a blot on thy banner, a pall on thy pride, — 
In darkness and a^hes, oh, well may'st thou hide. 

I>id ye dc'fem that our banner, the flag of our trust, 
Could be smitten by traitors and trailed in the dust 
And no hand would be lifted ? the men of the North, 
In the might of their Freedom, would rally not forth? 
Go, seek for your answer! 'tis marked through your land, 

In the desolate homestead, the fierce blading brand, — 

(61) 






92 

In the Bannev oiice move o'er your city unfurled — 
The trust of a Nation, tlie hope of a World ^ 
Oh ! cursed be he who in darkness would shroud 
One star of thai Banner 'neath Treason's dark cloud ! 
No grave keep the traitor, no stone bear his name, 
But his treason be buried in ashes and shame I 

There are some thai are loyal — a God-given few : — 
Thank that God, New Orleans, thou hast those that are true ; 
For the cloud may be lifted which hangs o'er thy brow, 
And the burden removed which is crushing thee now. 
But fierce is the conflict which for thee remains, 
F^re the skirts of thy garments are washed of their stains. 

There is blood on thy liauds, — 'tis the blood of the free, 
And not e'en Mississippi can cleanse it from tliee; 
But bj' sons of the North-land it freely was given, 
That thy sts\x might not vanish from Liberty's heaven ; 
And that bloo^, New Orleans, thine escutcheon shall stain 
Whilst the tnint of tliy treason slial.l blacken a vein! 

Lie doAvn la iliine ashes ! 'tis meet thus to lie, 

When thou art so fallen from Liberty's sky 

That the proud ones of earth who once bowed to thy prid^ 

Never mention thee now but to shame and deride ; 

Thou art 4lse to thine altars, to Liberty's trust,— 

It is meol fiion shoukVst lie in thine aslies and dust. 



¥|10M THE N. II. SECOND TO THK >< ASSACHUSETTS TIBST. 



A greeting tvom the Granite State, 

To the ^[assachusetts First, 
Who have stood by us in battle, 

When AVarV tempest o'er us burst : 
V/ho have calmly stood, unflinching, 

Wliere the fiercely booming gun 
Swept the besom of destruction 

Through our ranks at red Bull lUiu. 



Ye've stood by us in battle, 

And, on Potomac's strand, 
Have shared with us the wintry bla^t 

Which swept o'er Maryland. 
And new, when Freedom's very air 

Is dark with clouds of fate, 
New Hampshire forms her battle-line 

Beside the old Bay State. 
(93) 



94 

The Plains of Yorktown bear the marks 

Where Bay State men have trod, 
And yielded, on Virginia's soil, 

Their lives to Freedom's God ; 
And Glendale's dark,«ensanguined hills 

Fling back, o'er field and fen, ^ 
The shouts vrhich echoed where we fought, 

With Massachusetts men. 



Fair Oaks rears up its monument 

To valor and to right ; 
Its grass springs rank o'er tliose who fell, 

Amidst the deadly fight. 
And, soldiers of the Bay State, 

We seem to see you still, 
Where the cheers of 'Hampshire's woodmen 

Swept down o'er Malvern Hill. 



Ye've borne aloft the Stars and Stripes 

On many a field of strife ; 
Ye've wrote your love of liberty. 

And signed it Avith your life ! 
And, gallant band of patriots tried, 

Ye noble ones and free, 
New Hampshire, from her Granite Throne, 

Sends greeting unto ye. 



95 

Hold still aloft your fathers' flag, 

Still bear it in the van, 
For where its bannered glories fly, 

It bears the hopes of man. 
The patriot's hope, the traitor's scourge, 

The beacon of the brave, 
Its folds make life worth living for, 

Or glorify the grave. 



-Rear still, amidst the deadly fight, 

That flag of stars on high ; 
Beneath its folds we swear to live. 

Or 'neath its folds to die I 
'Midst sulphur smoke, and deadly stroke, 

Uprear that flag of pride, 
New Hampshire only asks a place 

To battle by your side. 



Our friendship formed in battle, 

And 'neath the rebel guns — 
New Hampshire pledged eternal faith 

With Massachusetts' sons ; 
And side by side upon the foe, 

Our vollied fires shall play, 
Till victory in her laurel twines 

The Gramfe with the Boy, 



^iit[tve\[. 



We sat beneath the willow's sliade, ■ 

Beside the flowing river ; 
Her hand clasped mine, — she whispered low- 

" Forever and forever ! " 
We'd plighted oft our youthful vows, — 

Vows of inconstant childhood, — 
We'd conned love's pages o'er and o'er, 

Within the rustling wildwood ; 
But now her hand was clasped in mine : 

Though earth might part us, never 
Would she forget, but still love on 
Forever and forever! 



Above, Heaven's starry canopy, — * 

My breast her tresses pillow ; 
No witness of our plighted vows 

Beneath the rustling willow. 
And there we vowed that e'en should death 

Our fragile life-barks sever, 
That we would love and still love on 
Forever and forever ! 
(96) 



9: 



If alter death — as poels fell — 
Our souls as stavs were lighted, 

Withiu twin orbs we'd still loA^e on, 
And be in death united ! 

Still o'er our heads the willow waved, 
Below us flowed the river, 

And still we whispered vows of love 
Forever and forever ! 



One tress — a keepsake — from her brow 
My loving hands would sever ; 

Her lips met mine — one last embrace — 
We parted, and forever ! 

Despite of manhood, in my eyes 
The briny tears would gather ; 

Still sounded in my ears her words — 
Forever and forever ! 



Years passed ; I'd roamed in foreign lands. 
Had climbed o'er many a mountain ; 

Had trod the desert's dreary sand, 
And hailed the oasis fountain ; 

Nor deemed I Death, with one fell stroke. 
My heart's best hopes would sever, 

And part me from the loved of earth 
Forever and forever ! 



98 

For her I ploughed the trackless wave, 
And dared the storms of ocean, 

To lay earth's treasures at her feet — 
Tlie bond of my devotion ; 

And like an echo came a voice. 
Forgotten by me never, 

Whispering within my inmost soul — 
Forever and forever ! 



Once more I trod my native strand, 
A weary, way-worn ranger ; 

Within my own loved fatherland 
I stood a lonely stranger ! 

And round my wayward, loving heart 
Sad thouglits would darkly gather, 

As came t)ie echo to my soul — 

Forever and forever ! 



They told me that she was no more- 
^ That she was now an angel, — 
That Mary trod the heavenly shore 

With God's own bless'd Evangel. 
My soul has lost each tie of earth. 

Yet still, forgotten never,^ 
I hear a voice within my heart — 
Forever and forever ! 



99 

And now, alone, I hide my time 

Where oft we roamed in childhood, — 

Where oft her hand-was pressed in mine, 
Within the rustling wildwood. 

I sit at midnight's stilly hour 
Beside the flowing river,^ 

And Memory whispers in my ear — 
Forever and forever ! 



SfsH Inn for Its p.ath^ii. 



[Sometime since, a youthful seamen returned in one of our (toV-. 
emmcnt ships to his native land. Freed from all restraint he at once 
plunged into the seething vortex of dissipation, and by an act 
committed in a lit of drunken madness passed into eternity. His 
funeral servi)5es were performed by the Eev. Mr. Stowe, Chaplain 
of the Seamens' Bethel : after an earnest impressive prayer, he bent 
over the coffin and pressing his lips to the marble brow of the dream- 
less sleeper, exclaimed, "is there uo woman present who will kiss 
this poor boy for his mother ?'' His request was answered, and 
woman's holy lips pressed upon the still fcatui'es of the lost one, the 
reclaiming seal of Heaven.] * / 

'Twas a youthful form lay sleeping 

'Neath death's sable pall of gloom, 
No kind friends were o'er ])im weeping 

For his sad, untimely doom ; 
Paths of darkness, sin and sorrow, 

His feet had early trod, 
He had wandered far from virtue, 

Far from Motlm- Home and God. 



fie had been a wayward ranger 
Over Ocean's wide domain. 

Had returned, a friendless stranger 
To his native land again, 
(100) 



101 

Now his wanderings all were over. 

Ceased his toil forevermore, 
And the weary Ocean rover 

Had anchdred by the sliore. 



But a reverend form bent o'er him ' 

Breathing humble, earnest prayer, 
Not the mother e'en who bore him 

Covdd have smoothed his dark brown hait% 
And have kissed the dreamless sleeper 

With more holy, tender love. 
Than he, who for that lost one 

Craved foronveness from above. 



Will iio woman for his motlier 

Kis3 that poor boy's pallid brow. 
She who loved him as none other, 

Who perchance is even now 
Praying for the dear one absent 

She once folded to her breast, 
tattle deeming that he sleepeth 

In liis last unbroken rest. 



There was woman's tears and wailing, 
As they kissed the sleeper there, 

Kisses, tears, not unavailing, 

Lilve (he silent voice of prayer — 



102 

They have risen ; a blest memorial 
To that power which holds control, 

And have washed away the guilt- stains 
From the youthful sailor'siteoul. 

And the twilight rested o'er him, 

As from out the Bethel's aisle 
To his last repose they bore him, 

And all felt the Angel's smile 
To that loving deed was given. 

And that woman's lips had placed 
On his brow a seal of Heaven 

Which could never be effaced. 



^ ienil and Jeff. Jatiis 

A BALLAD. 



The Devil he came to Jeff. Davis's home, 

To Jeff. Davis's home came he, 
Oh, come along, Jeff. Davis, he cried, 

For you must go with me, me, me, 
For you must go with me. 

Oh, tarry a while, Jeff. Davis he cried, 

Oh, turry a while, cried he : 
Sit down for a time and hare a chat— 

Don't be in a devilish hurry-re-re, 

Don't be in a devilish hurry. 

Let us talk of the past and what I have done 
To advance your interests here — 

You surely have had no truer son 

To serve you this many a year, year, year, 
To serve you this many a year. 

I have sold my country, divided the land. 

And am crushing out Freedom's ray; 
And wherever the South has felt my hand, 
There hm been the Devil to pay, pay, pp.y, 
There ha* been the devil to pay. 
(103) 



104 

I Have caused a river of blood to dow, 
And througli suifering, and care, and pain, 

JIave seot many souls unprepared, to go 

To the place where you hold your reign, reign, reign. 
To tlie i)lace where you hold your reign. , 



I have pao]>led the laml with di.simion and strife. 
And have used my power right well 

To send all my friends, as they passed from life, 
To the regions Aviiich you call Hell, Hell, Hell, 
To the Togions which vou cnll Hell. 



I have caused a world of widows' tears, 

Of orphans' cries and moans, 
And hare iilledthe South with terrible fears, 

With sighs and with dead 'men's bones, bones, bones. 
With sighs and with dead men's bones. 



In the home of the damned, if forced to go, 

1 ask yon if 1 could do better, 
i'or I fear very much that, down below, 

Tlicre'll be something my genius to fetter, fetter, fetter. 
There'll be sometliing my genius to fetter. 



A faithful Servant I've been to your cause. 

Tor many a long, long day. 
But your home does not meet my exact applause, 

And is very much out of my way, way, way, 
And is very much out of my way. 



105 

And if I wa;^ ^oue. ^hat would Todtubs aad Riiett, 

And others do for a leader ? 
Yott kuow \'ery well it in liard to get 

,?iioh a brilliant and daring seceder, seceder, 
Suoli ;i \)rilli!inr and darinj;; .se»"'eder. 



Since the day.</wlu;n you first look joiir fliiglit from Heaven, 

And laugheclTat the hosts of God, 
There never lias >uelt an example been giv^eu 

Of treadiiis- tlie patli that you ?rod_, trod^ trod, 
Of treading the path that you trod. 

The i>evil he ro:^e, shook his tail and bead, 

And he lantflied in terrible glee, 
And in hollort ioiie.s lie 3-ti*aightway said, 

r think, Jaft'., I'll let you be, be, be, 
.1 think,, .leflf., I'll let, you be. 

The Devil, then, would fain ha\e 'eft, 

But Jeff talked hira out of his will, 
He would nS^ha- of la's friend lereft, 

And the Devil is with hira still, still, still, 
Aw] ihe Devil i^ m't.h. him still. 



fi^, last* lours of gaj^oteoiK 



The tempest rocked Helena's isle, 

The thunder shook the stormy Heaven ; 
To him 'twas but the battle's shock, 

The rush of armies conflict driven. 
Once more at Austei^litz lie stood, — 

Once more' Marengo's gory field 
Before him lay, deep stained with bl6bd. 

His armies now advance, now yield ; 
Once moi-e they charge : in furious heat 

The sabres of his legions glance, 
t^ee I see ! the allied foes retreat,-- 

And victory crowns the arms of France ! 
But still without the storm is whirled ; 

Still, still the tempest howleth on, 
Nor heeds the passing from the world 

Of him who late War's thunder's hurled 
And shook its thrones — Napoleon. 
(106) ~ 






107 



Now changes to his mind the scene : 
He stands before the man of God, 
And with the Empress, Josephine, 

Vows that the Empire's mighty rod 
Shall e'er in justice by his power 

Be swayed aboye G-aul's fertile land. 
It is his brightest triumph hour : — 

Around him fawning courtiers stand : 
The crown they place upon his brow : 
Vim le JEmpereirr ! rends the skies. 
Ke treads Ambition's pathway now : 

New crowns, ijew thrones before him rise. 
But hai-k ! without the wild winds rave ; 
Still, still the. tempest howieth on ; — 
"lis but the requiem of the brave. 

The funeral march unto the grave 
v>f him whose earthly strife is done. 



Once more he treads the embattled plain, 

His faithful Life Guard by his side ; 
He leads the resistless charge again 

In all his warlike pomp and pride. 
His armies climb the Alpine height, 

They swarm upon Italia' s hills, 
.They gather to the unequal fight. — 

The man his destiny fulfils. 



108 

Betrayed by tliose who t'-ere his friends, 
N He still leads on his legions true ; 
But see I his march of glory ends. — 

Napoleon falls ai Waterloo ! 
But hark ' without the torrents pour ; 

Stillfiercer howls the gathering blast ; 
Heaven's lightnings flash, its thunders roar 

In that last shock, which shook the shore. 
Napoleon frou) this earth has pjissed I 



Twas fitting tlutt at .<uch an hour 

"He, whose strong arm defiance hurled, 
And conquered empires, and whose power 

8 i look the vast f;ibric of a world, 
>Should die; let no censorious breath 

With one dark slander cloud his name, 
He rests within the arms of death — 

Ills deed^; ar-e chronicled by fama. 



itrrah for ^ixtg-thr^e 



The j\ew Year victory briugiiig. 
Its onward flight is winging, 
Our banner's proud folds flinging, 

Across old Tennessee : 
A brighter day is dawning, 
We hail the coming morning, 
Ho traitors ! lieed the warning, 

Hui-rah for Sixty-tliree 1 

Hark ! to the shout ascending, 
The Heavens high arches rending, 
A Nation's voice is blending 

In glad acclaim to thee : 
The cannon's thundrous roaring. 
Its gladsome notes are poui'ing. 
In strains of triumph soaring, 
Hurrah for Sixty-three ! 

What thougli our loved ones dying 

On distant flelds are lying, 

We raise no voice of sighing, 

We know they perislied free : 
(109) 



110 

•» 

When death in fetters bound them, 
And night closed darkly round them, 
Eai'th "lost, but heaven found them, 
Hurrah for Sixty-three ! ~ 

Hurrah ! although tliy glory, 
Is drenched in blood, and gory, 
A page within our story, 

We dedicate to thee ; 
And in the coming ages. 
Shall patriots, bards and sages 
Point proudly to thy pages, 

Hurrah for Sixty -three ! 

Hurrah ! the day is breaking. 

Our country is awaliing, 

Earth rocks, its thrones are shaking, 

To Heaven we bend the knee, 
And vow, though sin assoil us. 
And foreign powers embroil us. 
Naught shall of Union spoil us, 

Hurrah for Sixty-three ! 

Hurrah ! Hurrah ! a nation, ' 
Hails in thee its salvation. 
Meet is thy preparation. 

For better things to be ; 
Again are freedom's fires 
Lighted by sons and sires, 
They gild our Union's spires, 

Hurrah for Sixtv-three ! 



Ill 

o 

Roll on, and in thy ending, 

View thou a nation bending, 
With grateful prayers ascending. 

For year of jubilee ; 
A nation reunited, 
With freedom's beacons lighted, 
And treason crushed and blighted, 
^ Hurrah for Sixty-three ! 



utt. 



Angel of Peace, fJiou who»Jiast tarried long 
Above our land, reeking with blood and strife, 

Unbend thy pinions ; let the joyous song 
Awake our country once a^ain to life, 

Chase dark-browed Carnage from Columbia's land. 

A nation craves the blessings of thv hand. 



Descend upon us from tliy heavenly sphere ; 

Bury foul Treason's hopes within the grave : 
Stay War's red chariot in its mad career : 

Stretch forth thy hand to pity and to save I 
Oh, let thy shadow rest upon the earthj 
A world in travail ifaitetli for thy birth. 



The clouds of war hang heavy o'er our way ; 

Our brave and loyal rest beneath the sod. 
Bid thou the nation cease the unholy fray ; 

Make thou our arbitrator Freedom's god; 
Oh! let thy rays shine through our gloomy ni^ht. 
Dispel our darkness with thy beams of light. 
^ (112) 



We see the tiasJi, we heat- the cannon's roar ; 

We know the land's Evangel tametli still ; 
We know that God is God forevermore : 

And yet 'tis hard to bend us to His will : 
Bend thou with pitying glance — we bid thee coaie : 
Hiish Thou War's trumpet — still its rolling tlrum. 



We liear the clash of arms ; the bayonets' gleam 
Dazzles our eyes already dim with blood; 

Where'er we turn, we see War's reddening stream 
Sweep on to swell the dark, accursed flood : 

Bid thou the strife of brethren to cease : 

We wait thine advent, meek-browed angel. Peace. 



We know that liberty baptised in flame 
Becometh dearer for the suffering's sake ; 

We knovv^ we battle not for power or fame. 
But that no traitor may our Union break ; 

We know God wisely wills that this shall be. 

Yet in our trial-hour we pray for thee. 



Come to us through the deadly sulphur smoke ; 

Shine on the field reddened with blood and gore 
Unnerve the arm bared for the treason stroke : 

Rest thy tired pinions on Columbia's shore ; 
Bid thou this fratricidal war to cease : 
We hail thee as our land's Evangel, Peace. 



®uii pem\t iutg to om[ d^ountrn/ 



'• Let eavth be clad in endless night, 
If e'er our banners cease to wave, 

And treason's flag obtain the right 

To float o'er Vernon's hallowed grave." 

The pages of ^this book being devoted to the 
soldier — to the man who, at the outpost of duty, 
is guarding, with jealous care, our country's weal, 
— it is fitting that, in closing this volume, a few 
words concerning our present duty as soldiers, as 
citizens, and as men, should be spoken. 

The wa.r has now reached its culminating point ; 
henceforth its progress must be to the Union 
cause a course of victory and ultimate triumph, or 
a course of irretrievable reverse. The indecisive 
battles of the war have been fought. Victory aad 
defeat have alternated, but whether we have 
attained victory or suffered defeat, the result has 
fallen far short of our expectations ; w^ere we de- 
feated, our route was not utter ; were we victorious, 
the fruiti^ of our victory were neither great nor 
lasting. At this time the rebellion has assumed 
an entirely new moral phase. The monster is in 
its death agonies, but it is only the more deadly. 

(114) 



115 

Never is the leviatlian if thedeep more dangerous 
than when in its death throe^. The traitors 
have collected all their energies for the final 
struggle. Treason in the South, treason abroad, 
and, worst of all, treason in our own homes, uplifts 
its hand, red with fratricidal blood, and braces 
anew its nerves for the last despairing effort. As 
if it were not enough that slavery's minions in the 
South should seek to strangle the liberty which 
on the American Continent found a fitting birth- 
place, its parasites in the North and Northwest — 
men who were suckled at the very breast of Free- 
dom — are formino; in our midst secret ors;anizations. 
with the view of aiding and abetting their brother 
traitors in arms. If the local authorities have 
lost the power to suppress and crush out such 
combinations, will not our soldiers in the field 
speak out, and emulating the noble soldiery of 
Illinois, rebuke the monster which, in their distan't 
homes, by their deserted hearthstones, is nowVear- 
ing its hydra-heads ? The leaders of these organ- 
izations, using and desecnating the sacred name 
of Peace, clamor for a cessation of hostilities ; in 
our Halls of Legislation oppose and throw stum- 
bling-blocks in the way of the Administration, and 
embarrass and render of no avail the movements 
of our Generals. Soldiers of the Union ! when 
leaving home and its allurements, you went forth 
. to do battle for our country ; you thought not of the 



110 

viperirj }'oii left behind to poison your own nests. 
To you 1 appeali Men who have passe<I through 
the fire of battle, w4io have stood in the van at 
Williamsburg, Yorktown and Manassas, show your- 
selves etjual to the present emergency ! Speak 
out in the miglit of your fire-tried souls, and the 
reverberations of your voice shall shake the pillars 
of the rebellion — whether at the North or South — 
from centre to foundatiofa ! Remember this : the 
Administration is struggling to maintain our 
national existence, and he who, at this hour, opposes 
the Administration — bo he Democrat or Republican 
—Seymour oi* Greeley — stamps his soul forever 
mth the indelible, damning stain of treason I Our 
duty as men and soldiers is to our pi'esent rulers. 
We do not ask for their political antecedents ; we 
only ask, ^nl\ they, with rlie aid of God, save our 
country ? In the past, our army in Virginia has 
laboi'ed under many discouragements ; the mis- 
management of Generals, the scheming of politi- 
cians, the imbecility or covert treason of Quarter 
Masters, has rendei-ed^etlieir bravery and self-sac- 
rifice of no avail. In the Southwest we have 
experienced a succession of victories, and yet the 
men have not fought more bravely, the morale of 
the Southwestern army is not better, and no braver 
hearts lie buried at Donelson or Murfreesboro', 
than now lie in their last repose before the walls 
of Richmond. Nevei- has -a more deterHiined, 



117 

self-sacrificing spirit been evinced than at Gaines* 
Mills and Fredericksburg. Where, then, does the 
fault lie ? On yoit^ base, scheming politician, yoUy 
General, more anxious for your own personal 
aggrandizement than for your country's good, I 
charge the sin of our past failures ; the blood of 
our noblest and truest, from the soil of A^irginia, 
cries out against you. Men of the North ! men 
who, unwilling or unable to take the field, have 
remained in your peaceful homes, I ask of yonj to 
lay aside for a time your party bickerings, and 
come forward cordially to the support of our noble 
ones in the field. How can they fight with traitors 
in their rear ? Knights of the Golden Circle, 
members of other secret societies in the North and 
North-west, are you so lost to all sense of honor, 
to tlie common dictates of humanity, as to dip 
your liands in the blood of your fathers, brothers 
and sons, as you are now doing, and hold them, 
reeking with kindred gore, to the world ? If you 
cannot aid us, we ask, at least, that you will not 
impede us. But, rest assured, if you will persist 
in your course, there is coming a day of retribution 
when the Arnolds of to-day shall take rank with 
tlie Arnold of the Re^volution. You cry peace, 
but do you fully understand the meaning of the 
peace you crave ? A peace bought h\ a nation's 
dishonor is more dangerous than the sword. A 
peace with you means a division — the giving up 



118 

of our inalienable rights as freemen — the acknowl- 
edgement that the South is too strong for us. 
True it is that our army of Virginia is in a discon- 
tented state at present ; but give them but your 
cordial support, let them know that every heart 
at home battles for them, and with the prestige of 
victory resting upon their banners, they will yet 
go forward, ^'conquering and to conquer," until 
this unholy rebellion shall be as the things that 
were. Allowing, however, that we were to desire 
peace upon your terms, could we divide our Union 
and mete out an heritage of graves ? Will the 
South give up its share in Bunker Hill ? or the 
North its part in Yorktown's closing fight ? Will 
t/oiz— breathing the air of Freedom, and calling 
yourselves men — allow the hallowed shades of 
Mount Vernon to pass into the hands of traitors, 
who are fighting against the ver}^ principles for 
which the Father of our Country fought and suf- 
fered ? The geographical configuration of our 
country precludes the possibility of disintegration. 
The hopes of the future, the memories of the past, 
cry out against it ; and did they not, those old 
bones that, for three-quarters of a century, have 
whitened at Princeton and Fort Moultrie, would 
arise from their very graves, and, with outstretched 
arms, curse the degenerate sons, who could yield, 
while life remained, their fathers' dearest birth- 
right. But I do not, loill not believe that the day 



119 

will ever come when we shall be willing to accept 
peace on such terms. With j)rophetic vision, I 
look forward to the time when the North 'and 
South shall again strike hands. I see our banner 
waving upon every Southern hill. I see, in the 
coming day, a vast Republic, stretchiDg from the 
shores of the Atlantic to the coast of the Pacific 
— from the frozen regions of Hudson's Bay to the 
sunny clime of the tropical South, embracing 
Mexico in its limits, having its centre at New 
Orleans, and with its power controlling the world, 
whilst over all, the calm stars of our banner soar 
triumphant, lighting our Nation's pathway to glory. 
It needs but a united effort, and this rebellion will 
be crushed ; only let our troops be not trammeled 
by the traitors of the North, and in the coming 
campaign they will mark for our country a page of 
glory. 

At the h^ad of our army in Virginia we have 
now a leader who knows, no party where his 
country is concerned, one who is incapable of 
forming plans for personal aggrandizement, whose 
soul is in the cause, and whose valor upon tlie field, 
and discretion in council, have been tried and not 
found wanting. When he moves forward it will 
be to victory. Let us give to him our entire co- 
operation. The time to strike is near at hand, 
and our men in the field — the men who are to bear 
suffering, wounds, and perhaps^leath — should have 



120 

to tlie utmost, the aid and the sympathy of every 
man wlio, in this knd of freedom, can raise aloft 
his hand to Heaven, and tltanli: God that_ lie is 
free! llie crisis of the war is now at hand. It 
is said that propositions of peace lia.ve already 
heen made. If we yield to them, we, as a nation, 
nre lost, witli our national lionor, national pride, 
♦'verything ])ut life sacrificed, wliat will remain to 
us : separated into petty republics, obliged to keep 
a standing army upon our borders, our form of 
government will degenerate into a military des- 
potism, and we will present to the world that most 
pitiable of objects — rs nation fallen— a people 
degen era ted . Angel s i luu-l 1 1 weep over the picture, 
but exen the tears of xhi- mngels would not blot 
from r])e ri<'Cords of freedom, the staiu of that 
<lamning cow^ardioe whieli would cnuse our down- 
hW. If, on the orlier hand, tire prct^ent contin- 
gency is uict with the lirmness of purpose which 
beconios a great people whose swords are un- 
sheathed in the sacred cause of freedom, we arg 
saved, and our lierltage of liberty will descend 
to posterity as pure as we received it from the 
liands of'tlie revolutionar}' fathers. 

Though the ark of our national salvation ma,y 
only come to w< over an ocean of Mood, still let us 
pray — God spf^ed its eoming. 



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